I've heard that it's risky to retake at that score, because one is more likely to score lower than higher. But I have reason to think my case might warrant retaking.

a) I was going through a bit of personal crap at the time of my LSAT, and so my study was minimal (we're talking three preptests total and a half-assed reading of the first third of a logic games book). On each practice, I scored 175 or 176; If I retake, I'll be able to commit to actual study.

b) And perhaps more importantly, on test day I unluckily chose a cabbie who did not speak English and became completely lost. He dropped me off, highly distraught and in the wrong part of downtown, forty minutes later; I ended up walking the rest of the way. Thanks to kind proctors, I was actually able to join the exam late, losing 10 minutes on the first section (reading comprehension). I did answer all questions in the end... but you can imagine my state of anxiety during both that section and the entire exam.

EDITED to add following questions:

(1) What kinds of test strategies are best to move 175 to 180? Typical test strategies or something different? I already own the Power Score series (all of them), three recent unused PTs, Princeton Review book, and the "10 Real"/"Next 10"/"10 More" books.

(2) And assuming I have plenty of time to study (senior spring or summer before work), what kind of PT score should I try to get before committing to retake? My biggest worry, after all, isn't squandering $140 or even 100 hours of study time -- I GOTS TIME -- but ending up with a 174 on the real thing and losing the only advantage I have going into my cycle.

Basic stats: GPA: 3.7 @ Harvard (Sociology & Economics), F, Asian-American, applying either next year or the year after (I will be working after graduation). To be honest, I'm only interested in HYS, because I am interested in public policy and can see alternative ways of getting there (and alternate degrees like MPP). Thoughts? Thank you so much.

Last edited by lackadaisy on Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Congrats on the 175, but to be honest there is a chance you might be facing a shutout of HYS because of your GPA and the 3.8 soft floor (I don't know the effect of having H as UG). Because of this, I don't know if devoting the time to study/prepare and then chancing the retake is worth it (obviously this is contingent on how much effort you feel like you will need to put in). You should definitely still apply though. Best of luck.

takehold wrote:Congrats on the 175, but to be honest there is a chance you might be facing a shutout of HYS because of your GPA and the 3.8 soft floor (I don't know the effect of having H as UG). Because of this, I don't know if devoting the time to study/prepare and then chancing the retake is worth it (obviously this is contingent on how much effort you feel like you will need to put in). You should definitely still apply though. Best of luck.

That's what I was thinking, but I didn't have the GPA to be competitive at HYS, and I didn't want to spew some bad information.

Actually, I'm a URM, so I might have had a shot at HYS, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay sticker or anything close to it, so I didn't bother applying.

HLS gives a boost to Harvard undergrads, so I think you're definitely in at H.

A higher retake score will make no difference whatsoever to the remainder of your apps. You're definitely in at CCN and below, with good chances for $$. For Y and S, there's little if any difference between a 3.7/175 and a 3.7/180. Like the others said above, I'd focus on trying to make the rest of your app shine as much as possible, and not waste time on a retake.

I'll go against the grain and say retake. I'm at 3.7/176 and I was rejected from Harvard. If you're the kind of person for whom 180's no sweat (which is not to say you get a 180 every time), what's the risk?

The only non-URMs that got in so far this cycle with below a 3.8 all have LSATs over the 75th.

thsmthcrmnl wrote:I'll go against the grain and say retake. I'm at 3.7/176 and I was rejected from Harvard. If you're the kind of person for whom 180's no sweat (which is not to say you get a 180 every time), what's the risk?

The only non-URMs that got in so far this cycle with below a 3.8 all have LSATs over the 75th.

i am inclined to agree. while i dont think a 175+ score will really help your case much (your 3.7 really hurts you for HYS; plenty of 3.7 and 175+ last cycle got dinged), it certainly wouldnt hurt it. if you can 'easily' get a 178+, then i dont see the down side. will it be game changing? prob not, but it might help and tip you in at H (esp. since it was your undergrad).

lackadaisy wrote:Basic stats: GPA: 3.7 @ Harvard (Sociology & Economics), F, Asian-American, applying either next year or the year after (I will be working after graduation). To be honest, I'm only interested in HYS, because I am interested in public policy and can see alternative ways of getting there (and alternate degrees like MPP). Thoughts? Thank you so much.

You're at Harvard---have you gone to look at the grids yet? They have them in your prelaw office. I know, one of my close friends who goes to H undergrad typed up a chunk of the relevant grid for me. You get a boost at H for going to H. Go to your prelaw office and ask them for advice---the cycle of H undergrads is diff from most ppl on TLS. I'm pretty sure they're going to tell you "no".

swfangirl wrote:You're at Harvard---have you gone to look at the grids yet? They have them in your prelaw office. I know, one of my close friends who goes to H undergrad typed up a chunk of the relevant grid for me. You get a boost at H for going to H. Go to your prelaw office and ask them for advice---the cycle of H undergrads is diff from most ppl on TLS. I'm pretty sure they're going to tell you "no".

I haven't seen the grids yet -- I didn't know about them and definitely will when the career office reopens. My (informal) prelaw advisor has already told me "no" on retaking, TBH -- but he's the kind who would advise someone to just relax and go to any T14 and be happy.

Not exactly. I'm in an honors concentration with 13 required courses (and a 120-page thesis) who has taken a full semester in graduate-level coursework. I understand your point, and I'm glad to hear a confirmation of my impulse to retake, but I really hate being told what I've chosen to study is "bullshit."

Not exactly. I'm in an honors concentration with 13 required courses (and a 120-page thesis) who has taken a full semester in graduate-level coursework. I understand your point, and I'm glad to hear a confirmation of my impulse to retake, but I really hate being told what I've chosen to study is "bullshit."

Dude, it's possible you might get higher, but with that score you don't NEED to get higher. You know? Especially if your GPA is higher than like, a 2.0. Yeesh. This forum makes everyone lose all sense of perspective.